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"It is not your blame. There is great promise in you, but you are young yet. Now think. Can you swallow your pride and remain well behind me, where I and Jamie the Scot can guard you, or will you forget yourself and thrust yourself forward, thus endangering us all? If you think your spirit will overcome your sense, I can set two men to guard you out of the fighting." |
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Geoffrey's cheeks remained pinker, his eyes brighter than usual, but he took time to think over what Ian said. He was accustomed to weighing words, because many traps had been set for his unwary tongue in the past, and a misjudgment meant a beating. Here, however, Ian had stated the situation so cleverly that whatever choice he made was flattering. If he chose to go with the fighters, obviously there could be no question of his courage, and Ian had ordered him not to join the battle in such a way that no contemptuous implication about him could be made. If he did not wish to fight, Ian had stated the case to seem that remaining behind was the result of too-great courage. |
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"Please, my lord," Geoffrey said softly, "I will obey you exactly. I will not speak or move except by your order. Please let me come. I will not forget that it is you I would harm by a foolish act." |
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"Very well, Geoffrey, that will suit me excellently well," Ian said noncommittally. |
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In truth, he was delighted with the choice Geoffrey had made. However cleverly he had phrased the conditions to salve Geoffrey's pride, to Ian it would have been a sign of cowardice if the boy had decided to remain behind. Good heart, Ian thought. Good blood will tell, and if it kills me, I will undo the damage that bitch has done the child. I will save him, and he will be a fine man. Ian stretched and yawned. |
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"Tell Owain when he has seen the horses fed and watered to come back here and catch what sleep he can. You also. We will be watching most of the night." |
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With no more ado, Ian drew his sword and laid it |
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